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Phone-bullet robber found guilty | Phone-bullet robber found guilty |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man has been convicted of robbing a jewellery shop and then shooting the manager, who survived when the bullet hit his mobile phone. | A man has been convicted of robbing a jewellery shop and then shooting the manager, who survived when the bullet hit his mobile phone. |
Sean Henry, 35, of Douglas Close, Wallington, south London, stole £50,000 of diamond rings from Amore Jewellers, in Horsham, West Sussex, in 2005. | Sean Henry, 35, of Douglas Close, Wallington, south London, stole £50,000 of diamond rings from Amore Jewellers, in Horsham, West Sussex, in 2005. |
Shop manager Darren Prior, 25, was shot as he gave chase, but the bullet hit a mobile phone in his suit jacket pocket. | Shop manager Darren Prior, 25, was shot as he gave chase, but the bullet hit a mobile phone in his suit jacket pocket. |
Henry was found guilty of attempted murder, robbery and possessing a gun. | Henry was found guilty of attempted murder, robbery and possessing a gun. |
The robbery took place in the Sussex market town on the afternoon of 22 September, 2005. | The robbery took place in the Sussex market town on the afternoon of 22 September, 2005. |
Crimewatch appeal | Crimewatch appeal |
Henry entered the shop and ordered staff inside to hand over cash and jewellery. | Henry entered the shop and ordered staff inside to hand over cash and jewellery. |
One man was threatened with being shot in the leg unless he opened a display cabinet before Henry had finished counting down from 10. | One man was threatened with being shot in the leg unless he opened a display cabinet before Henry had finished counting down from 10. |
Timothy Cole (left) drove a getaway car for Sean Henry | |
Mr Prior told a trial at Hove Crown Court how the gunman turned and shot him during a chase that followed through the streets and side alleys of Horsham town centre. | Mr Prior told a trial at Hove Crown Court how the gunman turned and shot him during a chase that followed through the streets and side alleys of Horsham town centre. |
"I was about three-quarters of the way into an alleyway... I felt a shot and an impact on my right-hand side. | "I was about three-quarters of the way into an alleyway... I felt a shot and an impact on my right-hand side. |
"I opened my jacket and looked at my shirt. There wasn't any blood. I looked into my pocket and realised that it had hit my mobile phone." | "I opened my jacket and looked at my shirt. There wasn't any blood. I looked into my pocket and realised that it had hit my mobile phone." |
Mr Prior continued giving chase until Henry made his escape in a getaway car driven by his accomplice, Timothy Cole, 30, of Squirrel Close, Langley Green, Crawley, West Sussex. | Mr Prior continued giving chase until Henry made his escape in a getaway car driven by his accomplice, Timothy Cole, 30, of Squirrel Close, Langley Green, Crawley, West Sussex. |
Cole was also convicted of robbery on Thursday. | Cole was also convicted of robbery on Thursday. |
Both men are due to be sentenced at the court on 28 June. | Both men are due to be sentenced at the court on 28 June. |
Henry was identified as a suspect through CCTV footage shown on the BBC's Crimewatch programme following the robbery. | Henry was identified as a suspect through CCTV footage shown on the BBC's Crimewatch programme following the robbery. |
Some people have said how brave I was Darren Prior | |
A prison officer said she had recognised him as an inmate at a jail where she once worked. | A prison officer said she had recognised him as an inmate at a jail where she once worked. |
The court was told Henry was previously convicted of murder in 1990. | The court was told Henry was previously convicted of murder in 1990. |
Mr Prior said he was glad the case had come to an end and he could begin putting the experience behind him. | |
"I'm relieved they've found them guilty," he said | |
"Some people have said how brave I was but my family have said how stupid [I was]. | |
"But they've all said they are glad there was no harm done to me." | |
The trial was told the shot could have proved fatal had it not been for Mr Prior's "remarkable" stroke of luck. |
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